Martin Brodeur gets start against Red Wings on eve of trade deadline

By TOM GULITTI

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

NEWARK – It will be like old times for the Devils tonight at Prudential Center with Martin Brodeur in net for a big game against the Detroit Red Wings.

The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer has started plenty of big games over his 20 seasons with the Devils, but adding to the intrigue of this one is that it comes on the eve of Wednesday's 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline.

For the first time in his career, Brodeur isn't sure if he'll still be a Devil after the deadline as he has talked openly about possibly waiving the no-trade clause in his contract if general manager Lou Lamoriello can find an opportunity for him to play more.

With Cory Schneider taking over as the team's No. 1, Brodeur has started just once since Jan. 26 – a 6-1 win over the Islanders on Saturday. Brodeur acknowledged before and after that game that he thought about it possibly being his last as a Devil.

After the Devils lost 4-2 to San Jose with Schneider in net Sunday, however, Brodeur will get another chance tonight against a Red Wings team that the Devils trail by three points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Brodeur does not believe his start tonight has anything to do with the trade deadline.

"It's a hockey decision at the end of the day," Brodeur said. "Regardless of if I'm going to go somewhere or stay here, that's the business part of the game. So, I'm kind of happy to get back in the net. It's been a while that I didn't play at the Prudential Center [since Jan. 7], so it's going to be nice for that."

If Brodeur were to play well tonight and beat the Red Wings, he'd be in line to start again in Friday's rematch at Joe Louis Arena – if he's still on the team. Still, he doesn't believe what happens tonight will impact whether he's traded.

"That's hockey. That's something I can't control," Brodeur said. "I'd love to control it more, trust me, because I'd like to play more, but I'm happy I'm getting this start, and I'll try to do the best that I can to win the hockey game and put our team in the best situation we can. Wednesday will come and that's going to be it. We'll see one way or the other."

Brodeur does have some control of his fate, though, because of his no-trade clause. Two sources said the Minnesota Wild have contacted Lamoriello about Brodeur's availability as possible insurance for rookie netminder Darcy Kuemper.

The Wild might provide the opportunity that Brodeur is seeking to play more often, and his twin sons, Jeremy and William, attend school in Minnesota. Whether Lamoriello has made the decision yet on whether to move forward with trying to trade Brodeur or has any interest in doing so is unknown as he has remained tightlipped on the subject.

"I know I have a lot of say into it, but as of now there's nothing going on," Brodeur said. "I'm just playing the game and then we'll see. It might happen. That's hockey, and that's the part of the game that I never really had to deal with before."

BRIEFS: D Bryce Salvador (bruised collarbone) and RW Damien Brunner (charley horse in left leg) skated Monday morning prior to the team's optional practice and coach Pete DeBoer said "both have a chance to play" tonight after missing the past two games. … C/LW Adam Henrique was named the NHL's second star for the week ending Sunday after putting up four goals and two assists in three games following the Olympic break.

Martin Brodeur gets start against Red Wings on eve of trade deadline

By TOM GULITTI

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

NEWARK – It will be like old times for the Devils tonight at Prudential Center with Martin Brodeur in net for a big game against the Detroit Red Wings.

The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer has started plenty of big games over his 20 seasons with the Devils, but adding to the intrigue of this one is that it comes on the eve of Wednesday's 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline.

For the first time in his career, Brodeur isn't sure if he'll still be a Devil after the deadline as he has talked openly about possibly waiving the no-trade clause in his contract if general manager Lou Lamoriello can find an opportunity for him to play more.

With Cory Schneider taking over as the team's No. 1, Brodeur has started just once since Jan. 26 – a 6-1 win over the Islanders on Saturday. Brodeur acknowledged before and after that game that he thought about it possibly being his last as a Devil.

After the Devils lost 4-2 to San Jose with Schneider in net Sunday, however, Brodeur will get another chance tonight against a Red Wings team that the Devils trail by three points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Brodeur does not believe his start tonight has anything to do with the trade deadline.

"It's a hockey decision at the end of the day," Brodeur said. "Regardless of if I'm going to go somewhere or stay here, that's the business part of the game. So, I'm kind of happy to get back in the net. It's been a while that I didn't play at the Prudential Center [since Jan. 7], so it's going to be nice for that."

If Brodeur were to play well tonight and beat the Red Wings, he'd be in line to start again in Friday's rematch at Joe Louis Arena – if he's still on the team. Still, he doesn't believe what happens tonight will impact whether he's traded.

"That's hockey. That's something I can't control," Brodeur said. "I'd love to control it more, trust me, because I'd like to play more, but I'm happy I'm getting this start, and I'll try to do the best that I can to win the hockey game and put our team in the best situation we can. Wednesday will come and that's going to be it. We'll see one way or the other."

Brodeur does have some control of his fate, though, because of his no-trade clause. Two sources said the Minnesota Wild have contacted Lamoriello about Brodeur's availability as possible insurance for rookie netminder Darcy Kuemper.

The Wild might provide the opportunity that Brodeur is seeking to play more often, and his twin sons, Jeremy and William, attend school in Minnesota. Whether Lamoriello has made the decision yet on whether to move forward with trying to trade Brodeur or has any interest in doing so is unknown as he has remained tightlipped on the subject.

"I know I have a lot of say into it, but as of now there's nothing going on," Brodeur said. "I'm just playing the game and then we'll see. It might happen. That's hockey, and that's the part of the game that I never really had to deal with before."

BRIEFS: D Bryce Salvador (bruised collarbone) and RW Damien Brunner (charley horse in left leg) skated Monday morning prior to the team's optional practice and coach Pete DeBoer said "both have a chance to play" tonight after missing the past two games. … C/LW Adam Henrique was named the NHL's second star for the week ending Sunday after putting up four goals and two assists in three games following the Olympic break.